What Saliva Does to Keep Your Mouth Healthy

Posted on 12/19/2022 by Barbara Ketchum

Saliva is a clear liquid made mostly of water and found in your mouth. It is highly functional and an important part of our overall health. It is not just for baseball players to creatively pit out, this slippery stuff produced by the salivary glands, helps to digest our food and keep our teeth strong.

The human anatomy is quite amazing. Did you know you have three pairs of major salivary glands located behind your jaw? In addition, you have other smaller salivary glands in your lips, inside your cheeks, and throughout your mouth and throat. Without these glands, our bodies would not function properly. Saliva starts the digestive process in our mouth. Not only does it act like a solvent and help to dissolve our food, saliva also helps with chewing and swallowing. In addition, saliva creates a lubricating affect that keeps the inside of our mouths moisturized, which enables our speech to be smooth.

How Spit Keeps Your Mouth Healthy

Saliva keeps your mouth healthy by washing away food and debris from your gums and teeth. This is critically important as the buildup of food and debris is the first step in developing tooth decay. When you eat, chew your food thoroughly, as this will stimulate saliva production. Saliva also provides other tooth decay fighting substances to your mouth. These substances help prevent cavities and other infections, as well as provide nutrients for the surface of your teeth. Saliva keeps your enamel strong.

Schedule Your Routine Cleaning and Exam

When you come see us twice a year, we closely examine your teeth and enamel. If you feel like you have a chronically dry mouth, we ask that you share that with us so we can help to strengthen your enamel and help fight tooth decay. Give us a call today to schedule your next appointment.

Serving Salem Keizer Community since 1987

We provide dental services for the entire family from children to older adults. Our entire team of caring Doctors, hygienists and support staff pride ourselves on a high level of patient care.

Using the latest in modern dental technology our services range from sealants to complex implant surgery. Our goal is a comfortable experience for our patients with beautiful results.

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(971) 600-0211

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3380 Astoria Way NE
Salem, OR 97305-2054

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Dentist Salem OR • About Oak Park Dental
Providing modern dental technology and advanced oral health care to give you a comfortable and stress-free dental experience in Salem and Keizer, OR. Call today!
Oak Park Dental, 3380 Astoria Way NE, Salem, OR 97305 ^ (971) 600-0211 ^ salemsmiles.com ^ 11/25/2023 ^ Tags: dentist Salem OR ^